The Bottom Line
Pros
- Unusual board for skateboard enthusiasts.
- Can be propelled uphill without pushing off.
Cons
- Challenging to master for anyone but avid skateboarders.
Description
- Combines skateboarding, in-line skating and snowboarding in one board.
- Two decks are connected by one flexible arm.
- Comes in red, blue or black.
- Four swiveling wheels are mounted in a line so the board can go diagonally or sideways.
- Can be propelled uphill without pushing off.
- Kids said it was really fun to ride up and down the street, but couldn't do any tricks without lots of practice.
Guide Review - Shred Sled Outdoor Toy Tears Up The Sidewalks
After I checked out the stunt videos at the Shred Sled website, I knew immediately that I would not be testing this outdoor toy personally. I'm game for most things, but could only envision myself changing diapers in a wrist cast, so that isn't going to happen.
Instead I recruited my friend's 15-year-old son, David and his friend, Aaron to try it. Neither is an avid skateboarder, but Aaron wake boards, so he picked up the Shred Sled faster than his buddy. Both boys enjoy outdoor toys. After about an hour of playing with it they were really having fun and were figuring out new techniques at the same pace.
It looks a little bit like a Ripstik but the Shred Sled is an outdoor toy with four wheels in a line and a flexible arm between the two decks. All four wheels swivel 360 degrees like casters and the two decks tilt up and down and pivot left and right. This means riders have to be pretty steady on their feet.
The position of the wheels means that, unlike a skateboard, the Shred Sled can move sideways or diagonally without turning the decks. This, combined with the instability of the tilting decks, made it pretty tough to ride at first.
Though I worried that both boys would end up with broken bones and their mothers would never speak to me again, they became adept at riding it uphill and downhill and making tight turns. They also learned to wiggle the back foot left and right to propel the Shred Sled forward.
Both boys thought the board was fun for riding up and down the street, but only a more adept skateboarder could master the tricks and jumps. I asked if they'd spend their own money for the Shred Sled, which costs around $100, and they both said no. But they thought a "skateboard kid" would probably love to have it as part of his board collection.
Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.